Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrehotpink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Extrehotpink’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; dark green-colored rounded leaves; freely flowering habit; large intense red purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers and darker red purple-colored venation; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus moscheutos.

Cultivar denomination: ‘EXTREHOTPINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus moscheutos and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Extrehotpink’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Hibiscus plants with attractiveand large flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August,2009 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Guido Pink’,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus moscheutos‘Extrepink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,130, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeKwakel, The Netherlands in July, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands sinceSeptember, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Extrehotpink’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Extrehotpink’ as a new and distinct Hibiscusplant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.    -   2. Dark green-colored rounded leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large intense red purple-colored flowers with dark        red-colored centers and darker red purple-colored venation.    -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Guido Pink’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of ‘Guido Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are not as freely branching as        plants of ‘Guido Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Guido Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Guido Pink’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Guido Pink’ have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Extrepink’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Extrepink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Extrepink’.    -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Hibiscus are more        imbricate than flower petals of plants of ‘Extrepink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Extrepink’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Extrepink’ have light red purple-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of Hibiscusmoscheutos ‘Mauvelous’, not patented. Plants of the new Hibiscus differprimarily from plants of ‘Mauvelous’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘Mauvelous’.    -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Hibiscus are more        imbricate than flower petals of plants of ‘Mauvelous’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Mauvelous’ have pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Extrehotpink’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Extrehotpink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in five-litercontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices which closely approximate commercialHibiscus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 33° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 25° C. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs andthe description were taken. In the description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrehotpink’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Guido Pink’,            not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrepink’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,130.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures of 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to            light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly            spreading plant form, broad inverted triangular plant form;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate branching habit, usually about ten            lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Plant height.—About 72.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 68 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 53.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 143C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate to apiculate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Bluntly crenate to serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 137D and 138B.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between            N137D and 147A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to            144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large rotate flowers arranged singly at            terminal leaf axils; freely flowering habit with about 50            flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly            to slightly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for            about four days; flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late summer            into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering            about ten weeks after planting.        -   Flower diameter.—About 19.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 6.2 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about four            days. Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.2 cm. Shape:            Ovate. Color: Close to 143B to 143C; towards the apex, close            to 53A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals in a            single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 10.2 cm.            Width: About 11.1 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to nearly            orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugose.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to between 64C to N66C; towards the base, close to 53A;            venation, close to 61B to 61C; color becoming closer to 64B            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 63A; towards the base, close to 63B.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About            1.9 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            immature, upper surface: Close to 143C. Color, immature,            lower surface: Close to 143B to 143C. Color, mature, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 20° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 150. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:            Close to 62C and N155C to N155C. Anther shape: Orbicular.            Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N199B.            Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 11A.            Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 4 cm. Style length: About            3.8 cm. Style color: Close to 55B to 55D. Stigma appearance:            Five-parted, club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Ovary            color: Close to 150C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 6.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrehotpink’as illustrated and described.